GLOCESTER – FM Global opened its $16 million electrical hazards and gas detection laboratory at its Rhode Island research campus, the company announced Tuesday.
The facility is designed for testing industrial-grade electrical and gas detection equipment in order to certify products that are explosionproof, flameproof and suitable for use in hazardous situations and extreme conditions.
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The facility has been under construction for two years and features two fortified concrete explosion bunkers with 2-foot-thick walls, labs capable of reproducing corrosive and damaging environments, and a test site to handle toxic and combustible gasses.
“As industries and operations evolve, so can their electrical hazards,” said Brion Callori, senior vice president, engineering and research, in a statement. “For those companies who operate in hazardous environments, explosions caused by electrical equipment can put a company out of business. There is no margin for error. This laboratory will help FM Global and its clients be well-positioned to address such hazards.”
The facility will be operated by FM Approvals, FM Global’s testing organization. The facility is located on FM Global’s 1,600-acre research campus in Glocester.
“No other organization has built a laboratory quite like this before,” Callori added. Callori also noted the facility would expedite certification for electrical equipment used by manufacturers, allowing products to go to market faster.
